Union Plus Helping Prepare Next Generation of Union Leaders

by James Parks, Dec 4, 2010

The future of the union movement will be in the hands of a very diverse group of up-and-coming young union members. Union Plus, part of Union Privilege, the consumer benefits arm of the AFL-CIO, is making sure the next generation of union leaders is well prepared.

For the the past four years, Union Plus has given annual Union Leaders of the Future Awards to young women and people of color. Honorees are paired with experienced leaders from the union movement who make a year-long commitment to provide advice, guidance and encouragement. Since 2007, more than $130,000 has been committed to the program.

Vote for Who ‘Scrooged’ Workers the Most in JwJ’s Scrooge of the Year Contest

by Mike Hall, Dec 5, 2010

The nominations are in and there are seven great—let’s rephrase that—mean, nasty, heartless candidates for the dishonor of winning Jobs with Justice’s (JwJ) Scrooge of the Year contest.

Now in its11th year, the contest highlights the CEO, corporation or politician who has done the most to “scrooge” workers in the spirit of Ebenezer Scrooge before three ghosts scared the you-know-what out of him and he saw the error of his ways. But such a transformation is not likely from these Scrooge nominees.

Take a look at a short description of each, then click here for more details on their dastardly deeds and to vote for your Scrooge.

Protect and Strengthen Social Security

The federal budget deficit commission is floating the idea to raise the retirement age of Social Security, meaning we could work until age 70. In these tough economic times, it is unconscionable to propose cuts to the critical economic lifelines for working people. According to the National Academy of Social Insurance, Social Security provides:


* A typical retiree with the equivalent of a savings account of $225,000.

* A young worker and her or his family with a $414,000 disability insurance policy.

* The family of a young worker with a life insurance policy worth $433,000.

* What Is Social Security?

* Download facts and figures about the current state of Social Security.

* Read the National Academy of Social Insurance report, "Social Security: An Essential Asset and Insurance Protection for All" (2008).

Jobs? What Jobs? Jobless Tell Congress: ‘Maintain Unemployment Insurance Now’

by Mike Hall, Dec 1, 2010

Edrie Irvine, unemployed for more than a year, says Congress must act now to maintain jobless benefits. Jobless workers, Anthony Roebuck (L) and Russ Myer (R), flank her.

Yesterday, Anthony Roebuck’s unemployment insurance (UI) benefits ran out. It was the same day Senate Republicans would not even allow a vote on a bill to maintain the lifeline that has helped keep food on the table and a roof over the heads of Roebuck, his wife and young son—and millions of other jobless workers.

The 44-year-old Sheet Metal Workers (SMWIA) member from Denver, out of work since April, says:

My unemployment insurance ran out yesterday and I don’t know what I’m going to do without it, especially in a hard-hit economy where there are no jobs. No one wants to be on unemployment…we’d all rather be back at work right now. But the jobs just aren’t there.

AIDS Is a Global Human Rights Issue

by James Parks, Dec 1, 2010

Today is World AIDS Day, and union members around the world are calling for increased workplace efforts to combat HIV/AIDS and a renewed commitment by world leaders to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

While funding for HIV and AIDS prevention has been hit hard by the global recession, we need to remember that AIDS itself is not in recession, says Sharan Burrow, general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

Governments have committed to reverse the spread of this disease by 2015, and action in the workplace and union work in the broader social context is critically important to achieving this aim.

AFL-CIO Blog Archives for November 2010

Read the AFL-CIO blog archives for November 2010.

Health Care Giants Spent $86 Million in Effort to Kill Reform

by James Parks, Nov 19, 2010

We reported that Big Insurance funneled millions of dollars to the Chamber of Commerce to fight health care reform and millions more to try and water down the law once it was passed. Now Bloomberg Business News reporter Drew Armstrong has put a price tag on the effort to kill the bill. In an article earlier this week, Armstrong says tax records show big health insurers last year gave the Chamber $86.2 million that was used to oppose the health care overhaul law.

AFL-CIO Blog Archives for October 2010

Read the AFO-CIO blog archives for October 2010.

Wal-Mart Plans to Open 4 Stores in the District

By Jonathan O'Connell and Mike DeBonis
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, November 18, 2010; 12:49 AM

Wal-Mart announced plans Wednesday to enter the District for the first time, laying out an aggressive strategy to open four stores and hire 1,200 people in the city by 2012.

The blueprint is part of a national effort by the chain to expand beyond rural and suburban areas, where its low prices and massive stores transformed the retail landscape, into urban markets. Although Wal-Mart already operates stores in Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland, it has never had a store in the District.

Bill Clinton Rallies Miami Students to Support Alex Sink for Governor

Former President Bill Clinton, left, joins Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink for an early vote rally in Miami at Miami Dade College North Campus, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010. President Clinton addressed how critical voting for Sink is, especially during an election year that will so greatly impact the future of Florida

By John Lantigua Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Updated: 10:01 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010
Posted: 11:48 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010

MIAMI — MIAMI- Former president Bill Clinton had an enthusiastic college crowd of about 600 at his feet Thursday morning and told them what the political experts were saying about them.

He said predictions are that as many as 55 percent of young people who voted in 2008 —and helped elect President Barack Obama -- will not vote this time. Clinton imagined such a young person saying they had "something else to do on Election Day."

"Like heck you do," he shouted at the crowd.